Tonight the countdown is on to the $400 million powerball drawing, word that a change is approaching. More people could be winning big soon. Abc's gio benitez tells us how. Reporter: Second place won't win you the crown or the white house. But for many lottery winners second place will soon win you a whole lot of cash. If you were to get second place, would you be happy with that? Sure. A million bucks maybe? I'd be happy with 5000 bucks. Reporter: America has lottery fever. In 2002 the biggest prize $331 million. Now we're seeing numbers like $587 million, $590 million, even $656 million. Tonight's jackpot $400 million. Next month the consolation prizes will balloon. Right now if you hit five out of the six numbers, win $250,000. In october that number will soar to anywhere between $1 million and $5 million. More good news. Your odds of winning a prize of any kind will improve from 1 in 40 to 1 in 15, suddenly coming in second doesn't look so bad. Gio benitez, abc news, new york.

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